JoDe Romano

Flamenco

JoDe Romano "La Chispa" was a guest teaching artist & graduate of the High School for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas where she was featured in the Houston Grand Opera's Carmen. She also performed in the Franco Zeffirelli original production of Carmen, starring Placido Domingo and Maria Benitez at the Metropolitan Opera, attended by president Clinton, which was broadcast for PBS's Live From Lincoln Center and toured Japan with the Three Tenors. For over 20 years, Ms. Romano lived, studied, and performed Spanish dance in Spain and Japan, was soloist and choreographer for the José Greco Dance Company at The Joyce Theater, the Town Hall New York City, and toured the US and Spain. She was also a dancer in The Charo Show in Las Vegas with Jerry Lewis, Joel Grey and others, and taught a castanet workout on the Dr. Oz Show. JoDe Romano choreographed the Broadway Workshop production of Rita Hayworth-Hollywood Goddess, numerous Zarzuelas, and the mixed media dramatic presentation, Picasso's Guernica, at The Thalia Theater in New York. Ms. Romano has taught at Alvin Ailey and NYC public schools. Currently, Ms. Romano conducts Spanish dance and castanet classes at the 92Y Harkness Dance Center and is a graduate of the 92Y Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) program. She has been a guest teacher at Hunter College and co-developed and taught a DEL workshop at the 92Y. Ms. Romano also taught a master class and workshop at NYU for NYSDEA and at Fall for Dance at NY City Center. She teaches at Steps on Broadway, Ballet Hispánico, the Joffrey Ballet trainees, and Joffrey summer intensive NYC, along with other locations throughout the NY metropolitan area. Ms. Romano holds a teaching license from the Bureau of Provisionary School Supervision (BPSS) under the NY Department of Education. She has completed a series of instructional DVDs on castanet and flamenco movement techniques and produced and played castanets on her "Spanish Classical Piano and Castanets" CD. Ms. Romano is grateful to have choreographed and designed the costumes for La Jota Dolores on her NYC Ballet Hispánico pre-professional students' performance for the Tina Ramirez memorial at the 92Y/92NY.

Aubrey Cheek

Beginner Tap

Aubrey Cheek is originally from Florida, attended Oklahoma City University as a dance performance major, and graduated summa cum laude from Pace University with a degree in Arts and Entertainment Management. Aubrey has performed in numerous professional theatre productions including “42nd Street” (Fulton, Fireside) and “Cats” (Interlakes). She choreographed “Sister Act” (Interlakes). In NYC, she was part of Pre-Production for “Funny Girl” Broadway (with tap choreographer Ayodele Casel), and performed in “In The Groove” (choreographed by Dormeshia), and in “Gypsy of the Year” (choreographed by Chaz Wolcott).

Aubrey is an alumna of the Tap Program at the prestigious School at Jacob’s Pillow (directed by Michelle Dorrance and Dormeshia). She was a student in the Dance Lab NY Broadway Choreography Intensive (directed by Josh Prince and Valerie Salgado). Aubrey was a scholarship student in the Gus Giordano Dance School College/Pro Intensive. Aubrey continues to train at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center, where she has also assisted. She has presented work in several NYC choreography showcases. Aubrey travels to teach and set choreography on young dancers around the United States. Aubrey deeply believes that dance can change lives. She is passionate about sharing what she loves and connecting with others through dance!

Shani Talmor

Adult Salsa: Beginner

Shani Talmor professional actor, performer and teacher, has traveled worldwide presenting her sensual and sexy Salsa style.Trained in a variety of dance styles, including Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Samba and Afro-Cuban, Shani is an energetic and explosive dancer. Shani is worldwide known for her unique sensuous styling and body movement on and off the dance floor. She has powerful stage presence and a passionate love for teaching.

Shani made her Broadway debut and became an ensemble dancer on the musical "ON YOUR FEET" the life story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Right after that, Shani opened the 1st national tour of "On Your Feet" until closing. Shani was recently seen in the Warner brothers movie "In The Heights" by Lin Manuel Miranda, directed by Jon Chu. She was the associate choreographer at "The Muny's" theatre production of "ON YOUR FEET" and "LEGALLY BLONDE" and was also the associate choreographer on the 2nd national tour of "ON YOUR FEET" that is currently still touring.

A few of her credits include performances with artists:  Pitbull, Marc Anthony, T-Pain, Ne-Yo and Kat Deluna. She performed at Jennifer Lopez's 40th Birthday Party event,  The "NY Knicks" Noche Latina at Madison Square Garden and Madonna's "Smirnoff lifestyle Exchange Project" showcase. 

Her TV Credits include  "The Wendy Williams Show", "Kennedy Center Honors", “Mira Quien Baila” , "The View" ,  "America's Got Talent", Penny Dreadful City Of Angles", "Let The Right One In" and "The Godfather Of Harlem."

Marcos Pereira and Florencia Borgnia

Tango

Marcos Pereira and Florencia Borgnia are Argentine Tango dancers, performers and instructors from Argentina and currently based in New York City. 

They started their career together in 2013, performing at many Tango Shows in Buenos Aires, such as "Cafe Tortoni", "La Ventana", "El Querandi", among others. Since then, they haven’t stopped doing what they like the most, dancing Tango.  They have been dedicated to tango since their early age, having the opportunity to learn and being inspired by most of the well known tango masters in Buenos Aires.  Together they have achieved a unique style, among other tango couples, because of their outstanding elegance and their technical and interpretative quality.

In 2015, they got the Second Place in the Buenos Aires City Tango Championship; they have been Finalists in the World Tango Championship in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2023 they got 9th Place in the World Tango Championship. 

During the latest years, they have been travelling all around the USA, Asia and Latin America, teaching and performing at most of the biggest Tango Festivals; they were also part of the main cast of several Shows throughout the USA, such as "Tango Argentina" and "Ella es Tango", among others. Tango is their passion, and they would like to invite you to join them in this wonderful and captivating “one-way trip” to the Tango world.

Melissa Castañeda

Beginner Ballet

Melissa Castañeda was born and raised in Monterrey, México, where she started her career as a dancer more than twenty years ago. She recently received her M.A. in Dance Education with a focus on American Ballet Theater's National Training Curriculum from NYU Steinhardt. She is a fully certified teacher of the NTC and also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Dance Education with a Specialty in Classical from the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey. Her dance training includes ballet, modern, and jazz in intensives and performances with different schools around the United States, such as Houston Ballet Academy, Orlando Ballet School, and The Ailey School. As a teacher, Melissa has prepared students for national and international dance competitions, where they have obtained successful results, and she has received awards such as the "Outstanding Scholarship and Service in Dance Education" award through New York University. She is a passionate dance educator who strives to positively impact the lives of her students, and she is very excited to be a part of the Ballet Hispánico School of Dance!